Fire control



A May 4 1926.

I 1,583,308 L. RADFORD FIRE CONTROL 7 Original Fil ed March 23, 1920 5 3 t ..sh t 1 L.- RADFORD FIRE CONTROL May 4,1926. 1,583,308

Original Filed march 25. 1920 :5 sheets-sheep 2 arwentoa I Zamw'efladmd May 4 1926.

L. RADFORD FIRE CONTROL Original Film} March 25, 1920 I 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 J MW 2 v To all vw/lcm it may conccm:

LAWRENQE meow), OE Wssamemow, DISTRICT oi courtesy.

llgapllcztiec em; mien 12s, 1e20, $61121 Be it known that I, LAWRENCE BABE-DRE, a citizen of the Upitecl States, res'iding ai "Washington, District of Golumbia, have Ill vented new and useful improvements. in Fire Control, of which the-following is e specification. a

This invention relates to improvements in fire control end more I articuls'rly to they method and apparatus controlling the fire of guns on battleships although it is, of course, to he undersiood that 'wlthoufi'mate FIRE CGNTBGL.

He. 363,151; Benewe'l lrlercli 19, 19%.

axis of which trunnions is denoizecl l) T, Lei; the line SS represent the axis 0' the sighting instrument attached to said; gun, Let it be assumed, as is most commonly the case in ills design of "L1H sights, that the sighting instrument whose axis is .dcnotecl by SS is capable of a certain amount of ele Vation or depression in iisbeax'ings, and that the axis of said bearings is parallel to axis IT. In m liki ig'ieady to fire the gun 2% a target whose disance is such that the trajectory of the projectile must needs be rial mvlificatioiis certain features are eppliq smeiuihesi hting 'insirument is first (lefci l'hl-ig ill't control of guns in other locai ioxis (gr-i0 ills conical of other instruments such as seercliliglits on batilcsliips or other.

- is to provide an improvcci apparatus laces ,One of the obgecis ior' fire pressecl in its casings so cliai; its axis, SS, makes a certain predeierminei angle with the axis'of the bore 05: the gun, said angle lacing that which is known to be necessary of'the present invention in order that the projectile will travel iii e desired distance when the line of sight, SS;

control of simple and pmctical c mstmctioiiv has been directed toward the terge'e." Let I this sc le be denoted 'by e. The line of which will ice reliao tion,

A further obgecl; s to PIOVHlQ Slfi eppa reins of the above character m cwlucii the errors in operation Will be reuucecl to a minimum.

le and eiiicient'in operib A furtherolijecfi is to provide an imsight, fib is then directed toward the target by elevating-the gun aboiii. axis TT anll turning the Whole carriage in which said gun is mouniccl about a vertical axis It is Well known in thc'science of gunnery that errors iii the aim 0f such a gun will lie in t goduceil unless the line of sight, SS and tlie. EEXlSOf the bore oi the gun, lie

in the same vertical plane, or in parallel ver I iical planes race-fer separated. Figures 2 and 3 are diagrams by means of whichsa'iql errors may be explained. In Figpre oftlie gimjflrfi are slicvm lyii g in the same vertical This conditioncan e20 1st, unsierilie assumption already mafia, only when the inc imiiimo is of ihe gun, "33? has 1Z2 the horizontal plane HE. i ow 40 .line of more and the trunnional line of lhe' lei it be 35511171961 that the axis 'lT no longer lies in the horizontal plaice Hi1 but 1nguns together with tile variations produced iliesc angles. Figures i and 5' Wll we referred 59'111039 in detail W iutnclccl in show iii. vertica sections at igi t' angles each other iii construction of ihe appallli'OlVSfiJ- v 'Witli ilicse figures in mind it may be stated that the present invenition lies-for icli will hereinafter its purpose the elimination oicertein errors such conditions, an, vertical plane of I in the control of the of the guns, the 313-1 ture of which errors may be mogce readily explainezl by reference to Figures -1 2 anti 3. In Figure LslciGii represent the axis of irejectory oi the projectile fired from clipeific iim sci-cl plane, assliown in Figure viliafeiii slie'line TZi" clenoties the in, clined position of 'ihe axis 0; the trunnions. Let it be assumed that this mclinecion, the amount of which may lee denoted by a is such that line 'li i" lies in a vertical plane perpendicular ixfthe line SS. Ii. is obvious,

from consideration of Figure 3 that under the the gui: Whose axis is flenol 'cd by GG, willnot pass through the target, since it is assumed that line S3 clircc'teil toward the target.

1 thcfboc' of a gun which may be elevated or Let the angle oe t wee'n' the vertical plane depressed. abous its illfl'HSVii'ZEiE trunmons, the -thz'ocgli GK}, 21M ills vcrticel'plens through a;

inc, line of sigJi, Sfi, and "Zhe axis of 4511s: mare SS be denoted by M. ltcan be shown that the value of M is such that,

tan hizltan 6 sin r.

Moreover it will alsobe found, when the conditions illustrated in Figure 3 exist, that the projectile will not trai el a suficient distance. This error is due to the fact that the angle of elevation of GG above the horizontal plane HH, which angle may be denoted by N is such that,

- sin Nzsin e cos 1".

From this equation it follows that N is alwaysless than c, and the error in elevation of GG, which may be denoted by P, is such that,

v I P=6-Sllf (sin e cos 1').

These two errors, viz M andP, may be eliminated provided the sighting device of the gun is so designed and constructed that the line of sight and-the bore of the gun always lie in the same vertical plane, orin parallel vertical,planes not far separated and further provided that the ilesignand' construction of said sighting device is such that the vertical angle between the bore of the gun and the line of sight is maintained constant for a given setting or adjustment of the sighting device for range. The device,

the construction and method of operation of which are hereinafter described, serves to fulfill these conditions for the elimination of the errors M and P to a very high degree of precision.- 4

Figure 4 shows a longitudinal vertical section of one embodiment of the invention,

and, I Figure 5 is an end view of the same. 1 is a case mounted in bearings 2, 2 in the lugs 3, 3 cast inone with plate 1-. This permits rotation of the case 1 about the axis AA. The late 4 carries another pair of lugs 5, 5 by w ich it is supported in the frame 6 on bearings 7, 7, being capable of rotation about the axis BB throu h a certain angle. In-

- Figures t and 5 the evice is shown mounted on a gun director, or d rectorscope, which,

as is well known, is an instrument used, particularly in naval gunnery, for the purpose of controlling the fire of a gun, or group of'guns, froma point-removed from said gun or guns. In this embodiment of the invention, the frame 6 is supported by bearings 8, 8 on the standards 9,. 9, which are attached rigidly to the plate 10 01'' the direc tor scope. This plate 10 is capable of being trained in azimuth'about the axis CC. 4 q,

from a point on BB as a center, immovably showing on one of its. at surfaces a scal the angle through"which plategj I wlth the case 1,-mustbe depressed: about the te gether by means of 11* is, a sector of a circular rack, struck messes .turnis driven. by the handwheel 18 through bevel gears (not shown).

19 and 20 are the parts, piece being at 21, part 19 being coaxial with axis AA. The line of sight from the objective of this eriscope in part 20 is per-- pendicular to axis AA and is reflected through an angle of approximately 90 by a mirror 22. The horizontal part of the periscope 19, is securely attache-kl to the case 1, while. the vertical part, 20, is capable of a certain amount" of. rotation} about its own axis in the bearing 23 in the case 1.

There is attached immovably to the case 1, a eriscope, 24, by means ,of the bracket 25. The eyepiece'of this peiyiscope, coaxial with the bearings-2, 2 and the upper end of the'periscope is provided a prism, 27,

which the line of sight is directed at right angles to the" plane determined by the optica-la-xes of the horizontal and vertical-portions of the iperiscope denoted by 19 and 20.5 28 is a sector of a worm wheel with its center on-the'lihe AA, cut on piece 29, which is immovablyse'cured to the case, 1. This wornr wheel {meshes with a wormon a' shaft 30, which shaft is carried in bearings in the'plate 4:, and is providedwith a crank, 31, at each end;

Piece 32 is provided with a collar 33 which is locked securely to the tube of the periscope 20, and at its lower end is provided with a journal, as, coaxial with bearings 23, into which journal fits a pin-or shaft, 35, se-

curelyattached to the case, 1. The hori- .3:- zontal armcf piece 32 carries, in a bearingbetweeh the two prongs of the fork 36,1and is so located that it is coaxial with the bearings 2, when the scale on the circular rack 11 reads zero.

Plate 4 carries a standard, l0, to' whicli is .immov'ably attached a pinion 4 1, said pinion being concentric with axis AA. pinion 420ithe same number of teeth {as 41, is keyed non-rotatably to a shaft 4C3, supported ina which has two-thirds as many teeth as 1 7 horizontal and vertical. respectlvely, of a eriscope, the eye- Frame 6 carriesa bracket 37, to which bearin' in piece .44, said piece 4% being im-;. movztb 5'' attached to fiasejl. vlinion A5,:

and 4&2, islalso-heyudyto shaft l3, and meshes with a pinion as; wiiihhas" one and ioner' masses third as many teeth as pinibns 41 and ,42, or

twice as many as pinion l5. This pinion 46 is keyed to a shaft 47, which is carried in twg bearings 1n piece 44, and whose axis coincides with, axis AA. The shaft 4? is not continuous, the two partsthereof being securely attached to a member 48. In mornber i8 is cut a-soctor of a circular groove, with the center of'th'e 'circle on the axis of the vertical perisco 8. tube 20. The bottom of this groove is a at surface lying a. short. distance belownxis AA.

A pin 49 is carried in a bearing 50 in piece 32, said pin-being capable of lengthwise motion, but not of rotation,'in its bearing. This pin 49 carries at its lower end a small roller 51,.the radius of-said roller being equal to the minimum distance betweensaxis AA. and the flatbottom surface of the groove in; piece 48. Said pin it? 'w also provided with a flange 52 whereby acompression spring 53, the other end of which presses against part 50, keeps the roller 51 in contact with the bottom surface of the groove'in piece -18. At its up or end the pin 49 is attached to. one arm a bell crank 54, by means of a pin 55. This bell crank 54 is carried on bearings 56 on lugs on the collar 33, one lug and bearing being located' on each side of the eriscope tube'ZO, the upper arm of the crank 5d, being forked atits mner or hearing end, and the lower arm of said bell crank being attached to one prong of the fork of the upper arm, said lower arm hanging alongside of the vertical portion of the eriscope. Theupper. arm of said bell crank. is provided with a telescopic joint 57,- in orderto allow for small variations in length. The length of pin49 is such that, whenits axis lies in the plane determined by the horizontal and vertical axes of the eriscope, 19. 20, the upper arm of, the bell-crank, 54, will be perpendicular to the axis of 20. Y

' The roller 58 is so located that the distance from its axis to the axis of the bearings 56 is equal to the distance between the axis of bearings 56 and the axis of bearings 59. A lever 60 is non-movably attached to the frame carrying the mirror 22, andjs, therefore,capable of a certain degree of rotation about the axis of bearings 59. A smooth bearing surface is machined on one face of the lever 60 at its lower end, the plane of which bearing surface would, if continued, pass through the axis of 59. A coiled spring 61 is attached at one end to a pin on' the lower arm of the bell-crank 54, and at the other end to a pin on lever 60. This spring 39 with the longitudinal axis of the fork 36,

and 0 denotes the point of intersection of axes AAandBB.

In case the invention were embodied in a I un director, or directorscope, as shown in is igures 4 and 5, and hcrelnbefore described,

suitable means would also be provided to transmit to the personnel manning the gugu or guns, Whose fire it is desired to control, information concerning the azimuth angle to which the device is trainedabout its axis CC, and also the angle through which the frame 6 is elevated or depressed about the exis of its bearings'in the lugs 9, 9. This information may be'transmitted' to the gun personnel either automatically, by means of suitablhjmechanical or electrical transmitters and receivers, or. by means of telephones, voice. tubes, or othermeans cinch-automatic transmission. Said means of communication are not shown in the present specification, since their design and use isv well 'lrnown, and, furthermore, since the present inven tiqn relates more particularly to the means byiwhich-the sighting mechanism is supportto the axes about which the guns are trained,

it is obvious that the screws of said guns,

by proper eleuation and training thereof,

may cause said guns to partake of all the motions of the frame 6.

The method of operation of the invention hereinbcfore described is as followsd The whole instrument is first turned about the axis CC until the image of the target lies on the vertical cross-line ofthe periscopc 19. In order to bring the target Within the field of view of the periscopc, it may be or guns Whose necessary to elevate or depress the periscope by operating the handwheel 18, which is so located that it is conveniently operated by right in its bearings 43, 2, i. a, that the axis of part 20 lies in a vertical plane passing...

through the target. Plate s, easel, and consequently the eriscope l9-20 are now dc pressed about .axis 13B, by meansot the hand wheel 14, through an angle denoted by e, corresponding to the range, or distance, to the target, said angle being set by reference to the scale engraved on part 11, said scale moving past an index or reference mark on frame 6. Since the standard 3'8, and pin 39, are immovably'lixed with respect to frame 6, it is obvious that, as the case 1, and the periscope 1f)20, are depressed about BB, the fork 36 will slide downward past the pin 39, and, as a result, a line passing through points 0 and I?) will make with axis AA. an angle equal to the angle 6. The frame 6, and consequently the whole sight,

- device are now elevated about the bearings in the lugs 9, 9, until the image of the target falls on the horizontal as well as on the vertical cross-line of the perisr-ope. The angle of elevation which it may be necessary to apply to the sighting mechanism by means of hand-wheel 18 may or may not be equal to the angle 6. In other-words, axis CC of the directorscope may or may not be perpendicular to a line drawn from the dircc'torscope to the target.

In the preceding paragi aph it has been assumed that conditions were such that the axis BB is horizontal. Now let it be assumed that such a condition no longer obtains but that the axis 13B is inclined in a plane at right angles to a line from the directorscope to the target. If such inclination exists, the transverse trunnions of the guns whose fire is to becontrolled will. also have the same, or substantially the same, inclination, since it has-been assumed that the directorscope is so mounted that its axis CC is parallel to-, 'or substantiallyparallel to. the axes about wh'iclrthe guns are trained.- When such inclination of axis BB occurs, it is the function of the cross-leveler to maintain case 1, and consequently the periscope 20, in a vertical plane passing through the target. by proper maniplulation of the cranks 31. For this purpose be may observe the horizon at a point from the line of sight to the target. by means of the periscope 2i, or he may determine when the periscope l920,'

lies in said vertical plate by means of the level 62. 'hen the cross leveler operates the cranks 31 he thereby turns the care 1 in its l'icarings 2, 2.'about axis AA. But since the axis ofpin 39 no longer coincides with axis AA, it is obvious that, as case 1 is rotated about AA, the pin 3 will press against one or the other of the prongs of fork 36, and thus cause rotation of piece 32, and of part 20 of the periscope about the axis of the. bearings 23 and 34. Now it has been shown how, given proper means of communication between the directorscope and the gun or guns whose fire it is desired to control, the bore of said gun or guns may be caused'to' partake of'all the motions of frame 6, either in elevation or depression, or in train, and, therefore, that the bore of said gun or guns may always be maintained parallel 'to a line passing through points 0 and E, since both points are lined with relation to frame (5. it is, therefore, obviousthat, by means of the mechanisms and operations hereinbefore described, the line of'sight of the periscope 1920, and the bore of the gun or guns with which communication is established, may be maintained in the same vertical-plane or in parallel vertical planes not far separa t In order that this vertical plane, or these vertical planes, shall also pass through the target, it is only necessary that the whole sighting mechanism be turned about axis CC until the image of the targeta gain falls on the vertical cross-line of the 1. cope, that the gun or guns be trained through the same angle.

As has been pointed out, the pinion 41 is immovably fixed to the standard 40, and

therefore to plate 4. Therefore, as case 1 is caused to rotate in its bearings 2, 2, throu h any given angle, pinion =22 will thereby e caused to rotate about its own axis through an equal angle, and by means of pinion's l-fi and it}, the groi'ived piece 48 will be caused to rotate about axis AA through half the angle through which the case 1, is rotated in its bearings 2, Moreover the arrangement of these pinions and parts is such that the rotations of part 48, and case 1,-each about axis AA, is al eye in the same direction. llowever, said rotation of the case 1, causes rotation of piece 32 about the axis of bearings 23 and 34-, as has already been pointed out. This rotation of piece 32 causes the pin 49 to move laterally in such manner as to describe a sector of a cylindrical. surface, said cylindrical surface being coaxial with bearlugs 23 and 3st. Let it be assumed'that axis BB is so inclined, in a plane perpendicular to a line from the directors'cope to the tar- 'llO get, that the left end of said axis BB, as seen from the position of the (iirectorscope operator looking into eyepiece 21, is lower-than the right hand-end, and that said axis Bl? makes an angle in said plane with the horizontal deuotedby r. ()bviously this angle 1* is the angle through which the cross-leveler must rotate the case 1, in order that part 20 shall line in a rerticalplane passing through the target, lily so doing, said cross-leveler causes part 32 to rotate about its axis through an angle M, such that,

tan Mztan 6 sin 1 1,ces,eoe

in. is also inclined in' the some direction, but

. through half the angle, as sxis BB, it is obvious our the pin l9 will have imparted to it, by the action oi. the spring 53, a down- I A H ward motion on its bearing 00. 1111s down- Ward motion of pin 49 Will impart toxthe mg to tne Well known laws of reflection. the

piece 54 an angular motion about the axis bearings 56. The amount ofsuid angular motion of piece .54 about the axis of bearings 56, which angular motion may be denoted by Q, is such that,

tan Qzsin M tan 1/2 1*.

therefore, mirror 22, sre'cau'sedto'rotate' about the axis of bearings 59 th ong?- an angle equal to 1/2 Q. and also that the isotion of mirror 22 about its axis is in the same direction as the motion of part 54 about the axis of bearings 56.. Therefore, accordline or sight of the eriscope is deflected, by said rotationof the mirror-22,-through the angle Q. end said deflection oi -the line of sight is in the some direction as the rotation of part 54 about the axis of bearings 56.

It has beenpointed out hereinbefore that the gun or guns Whose fire is to be controlled by the directorscope may be caused to partake of all the motions of the frame 6. Such being the case, the bore of said guns may be c'susedto remain parallel to line OE, since points 0. and E are both fixed with respect to the frame 6; Allso,'it is obvious that, by means of the mechanisms and operations described above, the line of sight of the periscope an'd the line 0E may other one.

he caused to lie in the same vertical plane. and that the angle between said two lines may be maintained constantly equal to sin e cos 7') +tan- (s in M tan 1/2 1 Furthermore, calculation of the value of this expression for various values-,of e and 1* will show that is very nearly equal to the value of .6, even though the values as signed to e and 1 may each be as large as 30 degrees, the discrepancy in said values being so minute as to be negligible.

It shouldbe noted that all the operations performed by means of hand-wheels Mend 3.8 and cranks 31, land the training of the directorscope as a Whole, may be performed at once, if so desired. 'SVliillOlllJ the performance of any ,one of said operations interfering seriously with the performance of any Also it should be noted that either handwheels '14: or 18, or both, may be operated when axis BB is horizontal or inclined, Or when case 1 stands vertical or is inclined, or when any combination of said conditions exists." l. From the above it is believed that the eonstruction method of use and operation will be clear to those skilled in the art. The invention embodies a relatively simple construction which is believed to accomplish, among others, all of the objects and advantages herein set forth;

l vithout further analysis, the foregoing will so fully reveal the gist of this invention that others can by applying current lmowl edge readily adapt it for various applications Without omitting certain features that, from the standpointot the prior art, fairly constitute essential characteristics or the generic or specific aspects of this invention, and, therefore 'such adaptations should and are intended to he comprehended Within the meaning and range of equivalency of the following claims, 4

What I claim is.:-

1. in an apparatus for controlling the fire of one ormore guns, said apparatus con" sisting in part of a sighting unit,-of a support for said sighting unit rotetehle-ahont an axis approximately parallel to a line to the target, or means for maintaining said support in an approximately constant relation to a horizontel line perpendicular to a line frornt'he sight to the target, and

of suitable means of communication whereby each of said gun or guns may he kept trained to the same hearing as the sighting unit, suitable fiechanisms-wherehy such maintenance of said support in ssid relation to said horizontal line automatically causes lateral deviation of the-line of sight of said sighting unit throughthe same angle, and

in the same direction, as the lateral devia-v tion of the verticelpla'ne containing the axis I of bore of each of said gun or guns caused 2. In an a pursrtus for controlling the fire of one "orm; re guns said apparatus consistmg in .partfof a sighting unit, ofa support for said sighting unit rotatable about an by the inclination of thetrunnions thereof. i

of means for maintaining said support an approximately constant relation to a horizontal line perpendicular to a line.to the target, and of suitable means whereby each of said gun or gun's may be kept trained to the same bearing as the sighting unit, suitable mechanisms whereby such maintenance of said support in said relation to saidlhorh zontal line automatically causes depression of the line of sight or said sighting unit equal-bottle loss in elevation of such of said gun or guns due "to the inclination of the trunnion; thereof.

r 8. ln an apparatus tor controlling the fire its - fleeting members,

of one or more guns, consisting in part of a sighting unit containing at least two reof a' member rotatable about an axis approximately parallel to a line to the target, of means for maintaining said rotatable member-in an. approximately constant relation to a horizontal line perpendicular to a line to the target, and of suitable means for keeping each of said gun or guns trained to the same bearing as said sighting unit, suitable mechanisms whereby such maintenance of of the sighting unit in constant relation to said horizontal line causes rotation of one of the said reflecting inemhers about a substantially vertical axis, with respect to the other reflecting member, through an angle very nearly equal to the lateral deviation of the plane of fire of each of said gun or guns due to the inclination of the trunnion thereof.

4. In a sighting apparatus comprising, in part, means whereby the apparatus may be set for a desired angle, and means whereby one member of said apparatus may he rotated about its axis in such manner as to keep its position in space. fixed when the apparatus as a whole is inclined about an axis approximately parallel to a line to the object sighted. suitablemechanisms whereby the operation of keeping said member fixed in space automatically causes deviation of the line of sight of said apparatus about two mutually perpendicular axes, each such deviation being equal tothe changein magniture of the corresponding component of the angle for which the. apparatusis set, caused by the aforesaid inclination of said apparatus.

5. In asighting apparatus consisting, in part, of means whereby saidapparatus may be adjusted for an arbitrarily chosen angle, or a member rotatable about an axis approximately parallel to atenet from the sight to the object sighted. and of means whereby said rotatable member may be maintained in a fixed relation to a horizontal line perpendicular to a line to the object sighted, suitable means whereby such maintenance of said rotatable member in fixed relation to said horizontal line perpendicular to a line to the object sighted automatically makes compensation for the change in value of the horizontal and vertical components of said arbitrarily chosen angle due to the inclinationof said apparatus.

6. ln asighting apparatus coptaining at least one reflecting member. and consisting in part of a member rotatable abr'iut an axis approximately parallel to a line from the sight to the object sighted, of means of adjustment for an arbitrarily chosen angle and said rotatable member I the object sighted, suitable mechanisms whereby such maintenance of said rotatable member in said fixed position with relation to said horizontal line said reflecting member through an angle substantially equal to one-half the product of the sine of the arbitrarily chosen angle with the cosine of the angle through which the sighting unit is included about an axis parallel to a line to the object sighted.

7. In an apparatus for the control of the fire of a gun or guns consisting in part of a sighting unit, of a member rotatable about an axis approximately parallel to a line to the target, of means for maintaining said rotatable member in a fixed position relative to a horizontal line perpendicular to a line to the target, of a support for said sighting unit, and of suitable means whereby the axis of bore of said gun and guns may be maintained in a fixed relation to said support both. in elevation and train, suitable mechanisms whereby such maintenance of said rotatable member in a fixed relation to said horizontal line automatically compensat'es for the change in elevation of said gun due to inclination of the trunnionsthereof, by suitable deviation of the line of sight of said sighting instrument. 8. In an apparatus for the control of the Ire of a ing unit, of means for maintaining the support of said sighting unit in an approximately constant relation to thevertical. and of suitable means of communication between the support of said sighting unit and each of said guns, suitable means whereby the error in train of each of said guns due to the inclination of the trunnions thereof may be compensated for by reason of the mechanisms embodied in said sighting unit and the support thereof.

In an apparatus for the control of the fire of a group of guns, consisting of a sighting unit, of means for maintaining the support of said sighting unit in an approximately constant relation to the vertical, and of suitable means of communication between the support of said sighting unit and each of said guns, suitable means whereby the error in elevation of each of said'gunsdue to the inclination of the trunnions thereof may be compensated for by reason of the mechanisms embodied in said sighting unit 'and the support thereof.

Signedat lVashington, District of Columbia, this {)th-day of January, 19:20.

LAWRENCE RADFORD.

group of guns, consisting of a si ht- 

